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A review by perpetuallytiredpanda
Die Tochter des Samurai by Lesley Downer
5.0
Not my usual pick. A member of the book club told me about the challenge involving historical fiction, since I don’t read that kind of books I thought about giving it a try, and I am really glad I did it. It is a real delight.
Japanese writers provided my knowledge of the historical literature of Japan. However Lesley’s view and interpretation of the old Japan, their traditions, families, social concepts, etc. has proven to be as beautiful and detailed as if she had been there in 1873.
I enjoy reading; usually when reading I tend to picture the way I would love the story to follow, however when the story follows my imaginary path I get disappointed (I know I’m weird hehehe), but in this case the story made me cry, laugh and hope. But above all it made me hate and love the characters, is something new for me. Before this book whenever I disliked a character it would remain like that the entire book, however in this case I couldn’t help myself in hating and caring for the characters (all of them).
Through the pages I’ve learnt the hard living of the samurais, I felt angry when they got rip off their duties and their honorable life. I could imagine how the “traitors” in their westerns’ outfit looked for them. But also I was able to understand the other side, the side looking to get Japan involved in the world, to be part of the global economy, etc.
This book is so beautifully written, that get immersed in the story, almost as if you were living it as one of the characters. I wanted to protect Taka from her brother, and at the same time I needed her to understand her brother actions. I could picture Nobu’s eyes filled with anger when looking at Eijiro, but looking hopelessly in love when fixed in Taka.
This book not only revolves around the love between Taka and Nobu, but also their past, a social past, where is more important what happened to each clan than what they were feeling. It also portrays a future where, if they have it, they will have to learn to live with their betrays to theirs clans, principles and at some point, to themselves.
As in every story where war is involved, there is a winner and a loser, but at the end of this book you are so attached to every character that I found myself hoping for the book to end before the last battle, to leave me with the “hope” even when I also wanted closure and whished for the magpies to build a bridge for the “weaver princess and the cowherd”.
Japanese writers provided my knowledge of the historical literature of Japan. However Lesley’s view and interpretation of the old Japan, their traditions, families, social concepts, etc. has proven to be as beautiful and detailed as if she had been there in 1873.
I enjoy reading; usually when reading I tend to picture the way I would love the story to follow, however when the story follows my imaginary path I get disappointed (I know I’m weird hehehe), but in this case the story made me cry, laugh and hope. But above all it made me hate and love the characters, is something new for me. Before this book whenever I disliked a character it would remain like that the entire book, however in this case I couldn’t help myself in hating and caring for the characters (all of them).
Through the pages I’ve learnt the hard living of the samurais, I felt angry when they got rip off their duties and their honorable life. I could imagine how the “traitors” in their westerns’ outfit looked for them. But also I was able to understand the other side, the side looking to get Japan involved in the world, to be part of the global economy, etc.
This book is so beautifully written, that get immersed in the story, almost as if you were living it as one of the characters. I wanted to protect Taka from her brother, and at the same time I needed her to understand her brother actions. I could picture Nobu’s eyes filled with anger when looking at Eijiro, but looking hopelessly in love when fixed in Taka.
This book not only revolves around the love between Taka and Nobu, but also their past, a social past, where is more important what happened to each clan than what they were feeling. It also portrays a future where, if they have it, they will have to learn to live with their betrays to theirs clans, principles and at some point, to themselves.
As in every story where war is involved, there is a winner and a loser, but at the end of this book you are so attached to every character that I found myself hoping for the book to end before the last battle, to leave me with the “hope” even when I also wanted closure and whished for the magpies to build a bridge for the “weaver princess and the cowherd”.